The East-West Shrine Game uses coaches who aren't employed by NFL teams. Crennel and former Oilers coach Jerry Glanville were the coaches Saturday. Then Crennel headed to Mobile, Ala., where he joined O'Brien and his assistants to scout prospects at the Senior Bowl.

It's interesting that the Texans have coaches scouting the all-star games - along with general manager Rick Smith and the team's personnel department - even though their hirings haven't been made official. O'Brien said he prefers to announce his staff once it is completed.

O'Brien would like to hire Mike Munchak as his offensive line coach. Munchak interviewed for Cleveland's head coaching job and is waiting to hear from the Browns.

Last week, Munchak interviewed for the offensive line job at Pittsburgh. He grew up as a Steelers fan in Scranton, Pa., before playing at Penn State. He was the Oilers' first-round pick in 1982 and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his 12-year playing career.

Now that New England, O'Brien's former team, has been eliminated from the playoffs, we'll see if he hires an assistant with whom he worked during his five seasons under Bill Belichick.

Speaking of the Patriots, who lost at Denver in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Crennel won three Super Bowls as their defensive coordinator before becoming Cleveland's head coach in 2005.

Crennel and O'Brien didn't cross paths with the Patriots. They knew of each other, of course. After Crennel spent a day interviewing at Reliant Stadium, he was sold on O'Brien enough to return to coaching after a season off.

Chiefs still owe

Crennel's agent, Joe Linta, said Monday his client is getting a three-year contract from the Texans. He is scheduled to make $3.25 million this year, the last year of his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, who fired him as coach after the 2012 season. Crennel sat out the 2013 season to recharge his coaching battery.

Few defensive coaches are as decorated as Crennel, who uses a 3-4 scheme. He earned five Super Bowl rings, the first two as a position coach under Parcells with the New York Giants.

When Parcells was hired as Giants defensive coordinator in 1981, he recommended Crennel to coach Ray Perkins. After Parcells was elevated to head coach in 1983, Crennel remained on his staff as defensive line coach until Parcells retired after the 1990 season.

Following Parcells

When Parcells came out of retirement, Crennel joined him in New England and followed him to the New York Jets.

Crennel returned to the Patriots in 2001 as Belichick's defensive coordinator until Cleveland gave him his first head coaching job in 2005.

After working under Parcells and Belichick, both of whom have defensive backgrounds, Crennel has returned to Texas and will work under an offensive-oriented coach in O'Brien.